Batman: Death Mask #1Review

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A bland Bat tale wrapped up in a shiny manga exterior.

By Jesse Schedeen

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Remember when the idea that Bruce Wayne's face was a mask and Batman was the true face was exciting and novel? I think that was like... 20 years ago or something. After Batman Begins pretty much everyone in the world accepts this to be true. For a comic to reiterate this tired truism is simply overkill. So when the very first page of Batman: Death Mask does just that, I know I'm in for one boring, hackneyed ride.

Death Mask's main draw is that it provides an Eastern take on a popular Western character, written and drawn by a popular manga creator. Given that the graphic novel Batman: Child of Dreams already ventured into that territory, I can't say I was terribly excited for the project. Still, I do love me some Batman. I have to say I don't feel entirely rewarded for my time and money. This issue is so thoroughly bland and uninspired in every way I decided to put on a "death mask" of my own. But here's the twist - it was really my own face!

Beyond the first few pages the story doesn't improve much. After a few pages of standard "Batman kicking thugs" sequences, Yoshinori Natsume goes on to suggest that Batman's presence in Gotham may actually be inspiring the very criminals he vows to defeat.

*gasp*

I was really bowled over by that one. Essentially, every page of this comic left me with the impression that Natsume hasn't read many Batman comics before. Maybe it's not entirely his fault; maybe the comics haven't penetrated the cultural awareness overseas like the movies and animated shows have. Whatever the case, American comic readers are going to tread a lot of familiar territory with this issue.

It's certainly interesting to see Batman and Gotham City rendered in manga style, even if Natsume's art lacks the flair and detail I was hoping for. I'd highly suggest picking up the aforementioned Child of Dreams trade instead to see a decent manga take on the Caped Crusader. If Kia Asamiya's art was enough to inspire several waves of action features, he must have done something right.

The one thing I was really hoping for, and something that Natsume still stands a chance of accomplishing, is providing a glimpse of Bruce Wayne's training period in Japan. Even after Batman Begins, the comics have done a surprisingly lackluster job of exploring the pre-Batman years of his life. Unfortunately, this issue withholds any such flashback material, perhaps hoping to entice readers to follow the series completely. I'm rather doubtful that's going to work with me. I simply don't think I can stand anymore "earth-shattering" revelations about the nature of Batman.